Affordable Care Act Tax Provisions for Individuals and Families

You must file a tax return to reconcile any advance credit payments you received in 2014 and to maintain your eligibility for future premium assistance. If you do not file, you will not be eligible for advance payments of the premium tax credit in 2016.

The IRS is currently sending Letter 5591 to taxpayers who received 2014 advance payments, but have not yet filed their tax return, to remind them of the importance of filing their 2014 federal tax return along with Form 8962, Premium Tax Credit. The letter encourages taxpayers to file within 30 days of the date of the letter to substantially increase their chances of avoiding a gap in receiving assistance with paying Marketplace health insurance coverage in 2016. For more information, see Understanding Your Letter 5591.

The Affordable Care Act includes the individual shared responsibility provision and the premium tax credit that may affect your tax return. The individual shared responsibility provision requires you, your spouse, and your dependents to have qualifying health insurance for the entire year, report a health coverage exemption, or make a payment when you file. In addition, you may be eligible for the premium tax credit if you purchased health coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Reporting Coverage

Claiming Coverage Exemptions

Most taxpayers already have qualifying health care coverage, and will simply check a box on their tax return.